126-480 Literature and the Visual Arts 1880-1920

This subject is taught in German.

37.5 points of second/third-year subjects in German language. European studies students wishing to enrol in this subject would normally have completed 37.5 points of European studies at second/third year, see Prerequisites.

This subject is designed to introduce students to ideas about the shifts in visual perception and the arts in connection with the development of the new media (specifically photography and film) circa 1900. At this time writers and cultural critics became immensely concerned with the visual arts in general, and with the impact of the new mass media in particular. The subject will introduce students to some of the most important literary and critical texts of the period. Some of the writers studied will include Rainer Maria Rilke, Hugo von Hofmannsthal, Thomas Mann, Franz Kafka and Georg Heym, Georg Simmel, Siegfried Kracauer and Walter Benjamin. Students will have the opportunity to examine the role of literature and critique in a society that is beginning to be dominated by visual media.

• have acquired skills in research, critical thinking and contextualizing information;

• also have developed skills in communicating knowledge intelligibly through oral presentations and essays in German.

A 1000 word class paper during semester (3rd year) and a 1200 word class paper (during semester) (4th year) 30%, and an essay of 3000 words (end of semester) (3rd year) 4000 words (end of semester) (4th year) 70%.

A subject reader to be supplied by the Department.